Game



March 1'1, 1941. H. R. EYER 2,234,627

GAME

Filed Nov. 5, 19 59 2 Sheets-Sheet l fie, 2 W 5 107 016? if, ,4,

I as K H. R. EYER March 11, 1941.

GAME

Filed NOV. 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE GAME Harold It. Eyer, Long Beach, Calif.

Application November 3, 1939, Serial No. 302,739

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a game and particularly pertains to games ofskill of the character in which balls or marbles are impelled across afield by a player with the object of effecting their delivery intopockets and of developing a score according to the number of ballsdeposited in the pockets during the courses of play.

An object of the invention is to provide a game having thecharacteristics of golf as to the manner of scoring and in which aseries of pockets are provided on a field and arranged at variousdistances from a base from which a player impels a ball or series ofballs; the mode of play preferably consisting in each player propellinga given number of balls toward each of the series of pockets in aprogressive order; the score being reckoned according to the number ofballs placed in the several pockets.

Another object is to provide a construction whereby the impelled ballswill be returned to the players, with such balls as may be deposited ina pocket separated from those deposited in other pockets therebyenabling accurate determination of the number of balls deposited in eachpocket during the course of a game, and whereby different values orpoints may be scored for the balls delivered into the diiierent pockets.

Another object is to provide an arrangement of a series of pocketsrelative to a plurality of playing points on a base line such that eachof the pockets of the series will be spaced from any one of the baseline points a distance varying at least in part from the distance of theother pockets and. yet alford a single pocket spaced from the base linepoints a greater distance than the other pockets that is equally spacedfrom each of the several base line points, whereby several players willbe required to make a series of plays of the ball at varying distancesbut when making the longest play the several players will havecorresponding lengths of play.

With the foregoing objects in View, together with such other objects andadvantages as may subsequently appear, the invention is carried intoeffect as illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. l is a plan view of a panel embodying the features of the game;

Fig. 2 is a View in elevation of the identified balls employed inplaying the game;

Fig. 3 is a View in section and elevation as seen on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the ame panel shown in Fig. 1 as seen in thedirection indicated by the arrow 4;

Fig. 5 is a detail in section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showingone of the pockets with which the panel is equipped.

Referring to the drawings more specifically, A indicates generally afield on which the game is played and which is here shown as comprisinga rigid panel 6 have a yieldable upper surface 1 formed of padding, suchas felt or other suitable material. The upper face of the panel 3 and ofits padded surface 1 slopes both inwardly from the side margins of thefield and from the back thereof toward the front margin thereof, thusimparting to the field the general contour of an inclined trough.

Arranged on the lower end portion of the field A is a players base Bwhich is here shown as comprising an. arcuate line of two correspondinggroups 8 and 9 of a series of base points a and b respectively of anysuitable number; the groups 8 and 9 of the base points being arranged toextend on the opposite sides of the longitudinal center line 3-3 of thefield with the innermost 0f the base points a and b spaced outwardlyfrom such center line.

In carrying out the invention the field A is fitted with a series ofpockets including a pocket C that is located adjacent the upper end ofthe field and is centered at a point on the longitudinal center line 3-3of the field from which the arcuate base lines iiare struck, whereby thebase lines extend on an arc concentric with the pocket C and whereby theseveral base points [Ir-b are located in equi-spaced relation to thepocket C.

Interposed between the base B and the pocket 0 is a pair ofcorresponding groups of pockets each of which is here shown ascomprising four pockets designated D, E, F, G and D, E, F and Grespectively; the pockets of one group being disposed on one side of thecenter line 3-3 and the pockets of the other group being disposed on theother side of the center line 3-3. The pockets D-D' are spacedequi-distant on opposite sides of the center line 3-3 on an arc d-cZconcentric with the pocket C; the pockets E-E" are disposed closer tothe pocket 0 than the pockets D-D and are spaced equi-distant onopposite sides of the center line 3-3 further from the latter than thepockets D-D and are located on an arc e-e concentric with the pocket 0;the pockets F and F are spaced equi-distant on opposite sides of thecenter line 3-3 on an arc f-f concentric with the pocket C and arecloser to pocket C than pockets 111-131; and the pockets G--G' arespaced equi-distant on opposite sides of the center line 3-3 on an arcg-g concentric with the pockets C and are disposed closer to the latterthan the pockets FF. The pairs of pockets D- D', E-E', FF and GG arethus disposed on arcs concentric with the base line B and are arrangedin different spaced rela tions to the base line with the pair of pocketsDD' closest to the base line and the pairs of pockets E--E, FF and G-Gspaced in the order named at varying distances from the base line B andfrom the pockets DD.

By the arrangement of the pockets set forth a large variety of distancesbetween several base points a and b and the pockets D-D, EE-, F-F andG-G is afforded yet the distance between the several base points a and bfrom the most remote pocket C is the same, which arrangement isadvantageous in that it affords a great variety in length of shots fromthe base line with a comparatively small number of pockets that arefixed relative to the base line.

In order to facilitate recording the plays of the game in building up ascore a return chute or run-way ii] leads from each of the pockets to anindividual trough ii; there being a group or series of such troughs l Ilocated at the lower end of the field with a separate trough and ballreturn run-way l provided for each of the several pockets whereby anynumber of balls deposited in any one of the pockets will be delivered toan individual trough associated with such pocket. The troughs II arelocated below the plane of the lower end portion of the field A and therunways ID are inclined downwardly from their respective pockets to thetroughs suificiently to permit the balls to roll freely from the pocketsto the troughs.

As a means of insuring return of a ball deposited in any pocket thelatter is formed with an inclined bottom wall l2 with the lowermostportion of which the upper end of the run-way I0 connects asparticularly shown in Fig. 5. The pockets may be of any suitableconstruction and dimension but are preferably formed with a lining thatwill minimize bouncing of a ball deposited therein.

The field A is fitted on its side margins and up per end margin with afence 13 of netting of sufficient height to ordinarily confine theplayed balls to the field. The lower end portion of the field whichslopes downwardly and inwardly from the side margins thereof to thecenter line 3-3 is fitted with an upstanding wall M erected in front orforward of the base B and which wall is formed intermediate its end withan opening !5 leading to a hopper shaped outlet I 6 connected with atrough I! for the reception of played balls that are not deposited inthe pockets and which roll down the incline of the field A and wherebythe non-scoring balls may be readily collected and counted to registernon-scoring plays.

The balls H employed in playing the game are of any suitableconstruction according to the size of the field A and the mode ofprojection of the balls. In some instances hard marbles may be used orsmall solid rubber balls, while in others larger balls, such as tennisballs or golf balls may be employed.

In order to enable a number of persons to play the game at one time andto facilitate segregation of the balls of the several players, each ofwhom it is contemplated will employ a number of balls in multiple of thenumber of pockets on the field A, with the view of each playerpropelling a given number of balls toward each of the pockets during thecourse of play and the score reckoned according to the number of theballs deposited in the pockets and returned to the runway Ill to atrough l I, one group of balls H is distinguished from another byproviding the balls of each group with a marking that is different fromthe markings of the other groups, such as numbers as shown in Fig. 2.

Asameans for enabling a player to readilylocate the several pockets tobe successively played to, each pocket is fitted with or has associatedtherewith a numbered plate I8 positioned so as to be clearly visible toa player located on or playing from any one of the base points a and b;the pockets D, E, F, G and D, E, F and G each bearing a number platecarrying the numerals I, 2, 3, and 4 respectively and also a numberplate carrying numbers 5, 6, 1 and 8 respectively, in the order named.The pocket C bears a single number plate carrying the numeral 9. By thisarrangement of numbering of the pockets a player playing from eitherbase line 8 or 9 may readily play a series of successively numberedpockets, and by first playing the group of pockets on the side of thecenter line 33 corresponding to his base line and then playing the groupof pockets on the opposite side of the base line and then making a finalplay for the long-shot pocket C as the last pocket of the series; aplayer thus playing the pockets D, E, F, G, D, E, F, G and C from thebase line 8 in their consecutive order, while the player on the baseline 9 plays the pockets D, E, F, G, D, E, F, G and C in their order.However, in some instances it may be desirable for the player to confinethe plays to the group of pockets either on one side or the other of thecenter line of the field.

The manner of playing is as follows: One or more players, constituting aside, select or are assigned to any one of the base points a while aplayer or players constituting the other side, select or are assigned toany of the base points b. For example, assume that a player is to playfrom the outer base point a of the line 8, and the opposing player is toplay from the inner base point I) in the line 9. The players thenproject one or more balls toward pockets D and D numbered I on theportion of the field opposite his base line, and successively plays forpockets numbered 2, 3, and 4, after which he plays for the pocketsnumbered 5, 6, 'l, and 8 in his opponents field and then makes the finalplay for the remote pocket C as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1.

The balls deposited in any pocket pass through the run-way It! connectedtherewith and are directed thereby to a trough I! provided to receivethe balls delivered to such pocket, while such balls as are deposited onthe field and do not enter the pockets roll down the field and aredelivered into the trough I1. At the completion of the game, which mightconsist of playing through the course as above described one or moretimes, the number of balls contained in the troughs II are counted,thereby forming a score. By the provision of the several troughs asabove stated the balls that are played into one pocket may have agreater or less numerical value than a ball played int other pockets.

Manifestly the game herein set forth is adapted to be applied in variousfashions, for example, the field A may be formed on a small portableboard or panel dimensioned so that the plays may be made with marbles orsmall rubber, wooden, or composition balls, of for example aboutone-half inch in diameter; the plays being made by shooting the balls ormarbles, thus providing an interesting game for children. The game panelmay also be sufficiently large to constitute a table game and playedwith golf balls, tennis balls, billiard balls and the like in which casethe shots will be made either by tossing or rolling the balls, or by theuse of a one or other suitable impelling implement. The game is likewiseapplicable for use on a much larger scale as an indoor floor game, or anoutdoor field game in which instance the balls may be either thrown ormay be struck by means of a golf club or the like.

In any event the score may be reckoned by the number of plays requiredby a player to deposit a ball in any one pocket so that a method ofscoring will result that is similar to that em-- ployed in the game ofgolf. However, it is manifest that various modes of scoring may beemployed according to the fancy of the players or to special rulesgoverning the plays.

By the provision of a series of base points a and b on the base lines 8and 9, a player may select or be assigned to any one of such basepoints, or the players may play successively from one base point toanother along the base lines. By this arrangement a vast number ofdifferent lengths of plays may be afforded the players since but few ofthe pockets will be spaced corresponding distances from any one or allof the base points. In thus affording a player a wide range of variouslyspaced targets the exercise of greater skill is called for than Wherethe targets are uniformly spaced from the player.

While I have shown and described a specific arrangement of the pocketsand base line, the invention embraces other arrangements that aresuitable for employment with the feature of means segregating the ballsplayed into the several pockets and in some instances the base lines 8and. 9 may each constitute a single point of play, in which event aplayer makes a play from any desired position along the line as he mayelect. I therefore do not limit myself to the exact construction andarrangement shown but may make such changes therein as occasion mayrequire coming within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a game, a field, a base line at one end of said field, a pocketremote from said base line, a group of pockets on said field interposedbetween said base line and said pocket, a series of troughs adjacentsaid base line, and a ball return runway leading from each of saidpockets to one of said troughs whereby balls played into said pocketswill be segregated in said troughs, an upstanding wall extending acrosssaid field at the forward margin of said base line and having an openingtherethrough intermediate the ends thereof, said field slopingdownwardly both longitudinally and transversely towards the opening inthe wall, and a ball receiving trough carried by and extending outwardlyfrom the lower end of the field in registration with the opening in saidwall whereby balls not entering said pockets will gravitate through saidopening into the last named trough.

2. In a game, a field having a longitudinal center line, a pocket onsaid line, a base line spaced from said pocket and crossing said centerline, a group of pockets on each side of said center line interposedbetween said first named pocket and said base line, all of said pocketsbeing within the range of players impelling balls from said base line,means for delivering balls deposited in said pockets to a point adjacentsaid base line, and means for segregating balls delivered to said baseline into groups according to the pocket into which a ball is played, anupstanding arcuate wall extending across said field and defining theforward margin of said base line and having at the approximate centerthereof an opening, and a ball receiving trough closed at its outer endand having its inner end open and registered with said opening, saidfield being sloped toward said opening whereby balls which do not entersaid pockets will gravitate through the opening and into the last namedtrough.

HAROLD R. ETYER.

